Packing retainer and lint eliminator for railway journal boxes



A 12, 5 F. H. CAMPBELL ,5 6,797

PACKING RETAINER AND LINT ELIMINATOR FOR RAILWAY JOURNAL Filed May 27, 1950 n k- ,l.

F; Z INVENTOR. J fiedf/(Zrmpall fizarzzey' Patented Aug. 12, 1952 entra ne PATENT OFFICE PACKING; immerse AND LINT ELIMINATOR ron RAILWAY JOURNAL BOXES Fred-H; Campbell, Milwaukee, Wis. Application my 27, 1950, Serial No. 164,650

This invention relates to packing retainersfor railway journal boxes.

In railway journal boxes, a journal bearing resting on 'a journal is lubricated by oil soaked waste that iscontained in the lower portion of the journal box and which bears against and applies lubricant to the lower surface of the journail, and it has long been recognized that the tendency of the waste to travel upwardly into the space between the bearing 'and 'the journal has been the cause of bearing failures, hot boxes and the like. In view of this long recognized source of journalbox failures, many efforts have been made to afford packing retainers for holding the packing against undesired upwar'didisplace- I Claims. (Cl. 308-89) ment. Such prior packing retainers, 'however,

glazing of the packing, and have been diflicu'lt to put in place and have been difilcult to remove when required for the purpose of servicing the journal box. The result of this has been that the use of such prior retainers has been relatively limited, and it is, therefore, the primary object to simplify the structure and use of packing retainers for journal boxes and to, improve the effectiveness of such retainers. A further and related object of. the invention is to afiord packing retainers of the aforesaid character that may be readily and easily removed and replaced and whichar'e :efiectively retainediin proper position in thejournalbox. :While railway journal boxes are relatively jwell standa'rdiz'ed'as to form and dimensions; the journal boxes in use on'Pullman' cars and by certain railways are constructed witha projecting hori zontal ribpn the inner surface ofeach sidewall somewhat below the axis of the journal, andthese ribs have interfered with the use of prior packing retainers. It is, therefore, a further object of the present invention to afford packing retainers that may be used interchangeably in standard journal boxes or in ribbed journal boxes of the aforesaid character, and an object related to the foregoing is to afio-rd such-a universal packing retainer that may be employed with equal facility in journal boxes of either type.

In the operation of journal boxes of the'aforesaid character, it is found that the waste mate- ;rial utilized as apacking material invariablyembodies an'appreciable percentage of lint, and this lint tends to follow the rotativemovement of the journal andinto the space between the bearing 2 and the journal in the same manner as described hereinabove with general reference to the packing material. Such lint is, however, more troublesome insofar asretention may be concerned, in that where means have heretofore been provided for holding the lint against upward travel, such means have had a tendency to gather or collect the lint in a wiping relation to the journal, thus to win oil from the journaland prevent proper lubrication. It is, therefore, a further object to enable this undesirable action to be eliminated and to enable the gathered lint to be discharged from the retainer to an inefiective position within the journal box. j l The objectionable tendency of the packing in a journal box to travel upwardly-is in many instances aggravated by.; freezing of: moisture or melted snow on the top of thepacking during idle or non-running periods when the box becomes cold, and it is a further object of the present invention to retain the waste and lint in journal boxes in such a way that any moisture entering the box in the normal way will be gathered on the retainer rather than on; the upper surface of the packing. Other and further objects of the present inven-. tion will be apparentfrom the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by waylof illustration, show a preferred embodiment of the present invention-and the principle thereof-and what I now consider: to be the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle. ,Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same orequivalent principle may be used and structural changes maybe madeas desired by those skilled in the-art without departing from the present invention andthe purview of the appended claims. U f J In the drawings: a v r Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a journal box equipped with packing retainers embodying the features of the invention; g

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the wiper element of the retainer;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and. H

big. 4 is a"fragmentary vertical sectional view showing the packing retainer of the present invention in use a ribbed type or Pullman journal box.

For purposes-of disclosure,.the present invention is .dis'closed'a's embodied in waste retainers JR and lflLadapted fo'r'individualf insertion or removal with respect to railway journal boxes I l 3 or I lP, which are of different types, as will hereinafter be explained. Thus, as shown in Fig. 1, the journal box H, which is of the most commonly used type, embodies a top wall i2, side walls i3, and an arcuate bottom wall It which is sloped upwardly at its outer edge as at 4F so that an outer end opening i5 is defined for the journal box. This opening is closedby a lid it that is pivoted at H at its upper edge on the outer end edge of the top wall l2. Within the journal box Ii, a journal bearing ill is disposed,

beneath and in engagement with a conventional wedge l9 that engages the top wall 12, and lateral lugs 26 on the journal bearing l8 have rearwardly facing surfaces that engage the forward faces of locating or side lugs 2! that are formed on the inside surfaces of the side walls 13. It will be.

noted that the lugs 2! extend downwardly from the top wall l2 and terminate in downwardly and outwardly sloping surfaces ZIS that are located somewhat above the horizontal center line of the journal box H. With respect to the lug 2i, it should also be observed that this lug is arranged so that its rear surface is spaced outwardly in an axial sense fromthe usual rear-wall or dust guard mounting of the journal box, and this rearwardly facing surface ofthe lug 2! is utilized in accordance with-the present invention in locking the packing retainers I OR. and 18L releasably in position in the journal box.

The journal bearing 18 is of the usual or standard type and is arranged to bear on a cylindrical bearing surface 253 of a journal 25, and this journal may have thecustomary outer flange 25F, which may, under certain circumstances,

engage with the end of the journal bearing 18.

In the use of the journal box arrangement shown in Fig l, the lower portion of the journal box is filled with oil-soaked material, such as waste 26, and this waste engages the lower portion ofthebearing surface 25B so that this bearing surface is lubricated in the course of rotation of the journal 25! In such rotation, how-'- ever, there is a tendency for the waste or packing 26 and the lint that is invariably included therein, to travel upwardly and into the bight between the bearing surface 25B and the journal bearing Hi to cause a condition usually termed a waste grab, and it isto prevent such upward displacement of the waste 26 and lint'that the packing retainers IBR and IBL are utilized. It will be noted that the packing retainers NR. and [UL are of identical construction except-that they are made as right and'left-hand members so as to be adapted for location in the'journal box on-opp'osite sides of the journal 25. Thus, for present purposes, only one of the packing retainers will be specifically described, itbeing understood that the other packing retainer is identical except for reversal of the positions of the parts to adapt it for use on the other side of the'journal 25. As shown in Fig. '1- of thedrawings, the packing retainer HJR is formed by upper and lower legs 28A and 283 that are formed from a single length of the bearing surface, as will be described in some detail hereinafter. The arrangement is such that the wiping member 29 is disposed against or slightly above the top surface of the packing or waste 26, thereby to prevent upward travel of the waste and lint material with the bearing surface 253 in the rotation of the journal 25. As will hereinafter be described in detail, the toothed wiping member 25 has a unique action in respect to-its retaining function as well as in eliminating the objectionable contact of collected lint with the journal.

, Under and in accordance with the present invention, the legs 28A and 28B of the packing retainer IR. are so related one to the other that e the packing'retainer may be readily inserted or removed from the journal box, thereby to facilitate proper and effective servicing of the journal box as, for instance, when removal and rewhich in the present instance comprises sub-- stantially one and one-half turns in the coil and from oppositeends of the torsion coil 28C, the springwire element is extended to afford operating arms 30A and 30B that extend generally upwardly in a slightly divergent relationship, as will be evident in Fig. 1. Thus, the arms 30A and 30B are disposed in substantially a common plane, thearm 30A being slightly oiiset as at |30A to compensate for the axial dimension of the torsion coil 280. At their upper ends, the arms 30A and 30B are extended integrally and at similar angles of somewhat over to afford the legs 28A and 28B, and it will thus be observed that the arms 30A and 30B, together with the torsion coil 28C, constitute what amounts to ahandle that extends in a downward and slightly forward direction with respect to the legs 28A and 28B, thereby to facilitate grasping of the retainer by a worker when the lid 16 of the journal box is opened.

When the handle element is thus grasped, the arms 30A and 303 may be pressed toward each other, and this will bring the leg 23A downwardly toward a parallel relationship with respect to the legs 28B, and when the legs are in this closely spaced relationship, the packing retainer may readily be moved into or removed from the journal box II, the leg 28A in such an instance moving beneath the element or lower end surface 2IS of the side lug 21 of the journal box. When the packing retainer is in a fully inserted position within the journal box, the handle of the retainer is released so that the arms 30A and 303 separate, and the upper leg 28A is pivoted'in an upward direction to the position shown in Fig. l of the drawings. When this is done, the leg 28A is disposed in what might be termed a locking or holding relationship with respect to the side lug 2-! of the journal box. In accomplishing this locking action, the upper leg 28A is oifset as at 128A generally toward the axis of the journal 25 and in a plane that is perpendicular to the plane of the arms 30A and '3 0B. The leg 28A is then extended as at 228A, and at its end has a retainin finger 328A that is arranged to engage the, inner 'or rear edge of the'side lug 2| of the journal box. When, the parts. assume this relationship, the intermediate portion 228A of the upper arm engages the lower surface of the side lug 2|, and the resultis that the forces are applied through the arms 38A and 303 so that the lower leg 28B is held yieldingly in a downwarddirection, The dimensions are-such that the lower surface of the torsion c'oil 28C engages the rounded sur-. face of the journal box bottom wall |4, thereby to apply at the same time a yielding force which maintains the ends of the teeth 29T in engagement with the bearing surfaceZSB of the journal 25. Y The wiping member 29 is formed from a sheet of a material such. a bra s; w ch has o -hea 5; properties with respect to the steel of the journal, and this sheet of material is bent upon itself, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, to afford a looped edgel29 and a tube edge 229 with an in,-

termediate flat or thin portion 329 that is of double thickness and which is secured together by spaced rivets 40. The toothed wiping edge is affordedby the looped portion I29 of the sheet metal member, and the teeth 29T are formedby cutting away intermediate slots so that each tooth constitutes an individual loop that is spaced from the next adjacent loop. These loops are, however, under the present invention, given a special formation in order that disposal of collected lint may be effected and the waste retaining action thereof on the journal bearing surface 25B may be enhanced without preventing" passage of lubricant with the journal surface Thus, each of the teeth is slightly twisted, as wi1 l .be evident in Figs. 2 and 3, and this serves to reduce the effective spacing between the teeth 291' and also serves to present an angular lower surface which it has been found tends to reduce the clinging of the lint and waste material to the teeth. In other words, there is a tendency forthe rotation of the journal to displace the waste and lint material endwise with respect to the teeth 29'1 while at the same time such teeth tend to hold the waste against upward movement with the journal bearing surface. Moreover, the teeth 29T are so related and spaced that aftera particle of lint has been displaced longitudinally by the angular lower surface of a tooth, it comes into'alignment with an upwardly and angularly disposed space, as well as with the open space within the loop of the adjacent tooth, and it is found that such lint does not follow or travel up with thejournal surface, but isdischarged upwardly and away from the journal so as to come to rest in position on and adjacent to the rear portion 2290f the member 29. The exact path of travel. of such lint is not known, but it has beendetermined that it results from the twisted and. looped formation of the spaced teeth 29T. for whenthe loop or thetwist is not employed, such disposal of the lint is not attained.

Thetubular portion 229 of the wiping member 29 Iservefs as the mounting means for associating the member 29 with the. lower leg 28B of the retainer.' Thus, the tubular portion 229 is generally rectangular in cross sectional form, as shown in Figs.-- l and 4 of the drawings, and the lower leg 20B; is inserted into this tubular portion 229 and is interlocked therewith in a rotative sense as well as a'longitudinal sense. To attain this interlocking action, the lower leg 28B is offset as at 2283 in a plane that is perpendicular to the plane of the arms A and 30B, and the dimensionof this offset is such that the offset portion engages one side of the tubular portion 229 while the other portions of the member 28B engage the opposite side of the tubular portion 229. Hence,- when the member 28B .is fully inserted in the tubular portion 229, the partsjare held ina predetermined rotative relationship so that the teeth 29T will; project v in a; generally horizental plane towardthe axis of the journal 25, and the mem her -2 .l is= 1din d r dl tudina no: s io o v he o leg 2 byior i s i d n a: tions .43 in the sides of the tubular pertion 229 so as to engage with oppositely facing surfacesof the offset portion 228B. 4 .l'i:

In Fig. 4 of the drawings there, isillustr-ated the form of journal box I IP that is normallyused by some railways and in Pullman calS and this journal 'box is quite similar to the aforesaid journal box I] except that the lug 2| is formed as a hollow lug HI, and somewhat below the location of the. axis of the journal 25, a horizontal rib R is formed along each innersurface of the side walls of the box. The packing retainer pf the present invention is adapted for use with equal facility withthe journal box HP, as will be evident in Fig. 4 of the drawingsthe wiping member 29 in such an instance being disposed immediately below the rib R while the .upperleg 28A cooperates with the sidelug I 2| in-the identi: cal manner hereinbefore described. I a

It will be apparent thatdue to the twisted and looped formation of theteeth-29T, a substantially continuous metallic barrier is provided over most of the upper surface of .the packing material, this being particularly true .in the area that is directly adjacentto the bearing, surface of the journal. Hence, when moisture enters the journal box, as, for example, when snow blows into a partially open journal-boxthis snow and the moisture produced in the melting thereof will be deposited on the retaining member 29 and the teeth 2.9T thereof.v Hence, if the journalbox-becomes sufficiently cold to cause freezing ofsuch moisture, this freezing will take placeiprimarily on the various metal surfaces of the retainer, and not upon the top of the waste material. This has been. found to reduce the tendency that would normallybe present for the waste material to become stifi and to move upwardly as 'a body withthe journal surface. I l the use of the present" retainer, the angular positioningof the looped and spaced teeth serves to effectually retain the waste "against upward movement, and serves to dispose of the lint ma terial in the manner hereinbefore described, and in attainingthis action, and particularly with re'-, spect to' the discharge ofthe lint upwardly and away from the journal surface, the present'retainer avoids any tendency towipe the oil from the journal surface. Thus, the oil may move freely'up with the journal surface so as .tda'ttain proper lubricating action. From the'foregoing', it will be evident that the present invention eliminates many of thedifiie culties that have heretofore beenencountered where efforts have been made to utilize waste retainers in journal boxes. It will also be evident that the present retainer disposes of collected lint in such a way that this lint does not wipe the journal bearing and thus prevent proper lubrication thereof, and it willalso be clearthat through the formation of the looped and twisted teeth, the upper surface of the packing material is protected against the objectionable results that would normally be caused by. freezing of the moisture on the upper surfaces of the packing.

Itwill also be evident that with the packing retainer of the present invention, the waste in the journal box may be reset quickly and easily without removal of the packing retainer, and thus the avoidance of glazing of the packing is rendered quite simple. V

--From the foregoing description, it will also-be evidentthatthe'pres'ent' invention affords a packirig retainer that may quickly and easily be placed new man-m orremoved from the journal box, and that this packing retainer is universal in character that it may be employed with equal facility in difierent types of-journal boxes that are-'nowin-use. r Q Thus while I aveillustrated-and described the preferred embodiment of my inventiomit is tobe understood that this is capable of variation a'ndmodifieation, and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations'as fall within the purview of the following claims. --'-r'--c1aim:" j I e V i". In a'packing retainer and lint eliminator for a-journal box in which a journal havingacylindri'cal bearing-surface is positioned, an elongated wiper element adapted tobe positioned on top of the packing in such a box with one edge of the element extended longitudinally along-and in wiping contact with the bearing surface of the journal, said element comprising a plurality of lateraliy projecting spaced teeth along said edge and formed from sheet metal to affordeach tooth alsfa loopof sheet metal with the loop slightly twisted to afford angular surfaces for'cooperati'on with-the moving bearing surface of a journal to displace and promotedischarge of any lint gathered beneath such teeth.

;2 Ifn a packing retainer and lint eliminator for aj'ourn-al box in which a journal having a cylin d'rica-ifbearing surface is positioned, an elongated wiper element adapted to be positioned on top of the packing in such a box with one edge of the element extended longitudinally along and in wiping contact with the bearing surface of the journalQsaid element comprising a plurality of laterally projecting spacedteeth along said edge and formed from sheet metal to afiord each tooth as a loop of sheet metal with the loop slightly twisted to afford angular surfaces for'cooperation with the moving bearing surface of a journal to displace and promote discharge of any lint gathered beneath such teeth, and releasable resilient mounting means carrying said wiping element for mounting such element in a journal box.

3; In a packing retainer for journal boxes, an elongated wiping element comprising a sheetvoi metal bent upon itself to afforda loop along one edge and'having spaced transverse slots extended inwardly from said edge to define spaced teeth afforded by said loop, and said teeth being uniformly twisted to afiord angularly disposed faces 'on'the teeth and form the spaces between the teeth at an angle.

4. A device according to claim 2'in which said mounting means comprises a mounting member formed from a single length of spring Wire-to afford a torsion'coil' with spaced operating arms extending from opposite ends of the coil in substantially' the same plane to define an outer handle portion to be grasped by a user, one of said arms having a lower leg extend'ed'therefrom'in said plane and at a predetermined angle'to said one arm of somewhat more than ninety degrees but substantially less than one-hundred eighty degrees, and in which said Wiper element is fixed on said lower leg so that the spaced projecting teeth thereof extendlin one direction therefrom in a second plane substantially normal to said first mentioned plane, an upper leg: ihtegrallyex tended in said first mentioned plane'fro'nr the other ofsaid arms so as to normally divergewith respectto said iower leg, said upper leg-being formedto afiord an offset portion adapted to ex tend around the-side lug in a journal box and having a retaining finger extending in a third plane perpendicular to said first mentioned plane and in a direction opposite to said one direction to engage the edge of such a lug remote from the open end-era journal box to hold the retainerin placein'such journal box.

"5. In a packing retainer-for journal boxes; o mounting-member formed from a single length of spring wire to afiford a torsion coilwith spaced operating; arms extending from opposite ends or the coil in substantiaily the same plane to define an outer handle portiorr'to lie-grasped by a-user, one of said arms having a lower legexte'nded therefrom in said piano and at a predetermined angle to said one arm of somewhat more than ninety degrees but; substantially less than one hundred eighty degrees, a pressur member formed from sheet metal and mounted on said lower leg and having spaced projecting teeth-ex t'ending in one direction in a second plane sub-- stantially normal to said first mentioned plane, an" upper leg integrally extended in said first mentioned 'plane" from th other of said arms so as to normally diverge with respectto saidlower leg, said upper leg having a retaining finger ex tending 'laterallytherefrom in position to engage the edge of sucha lug remote from the open end of a journal box to hold the retainer in place in such journal box.

6. In a packing retainer for journal boxes, a mounting member formed from a single length of spring wire to afford a torsion coil with spaced operating arms extending in a gradually divergingrelation fromopposite ends of the coil in substantially the same plane to define an outer handle portion to be grasped by a user, one of said arms" having alower leg extended therefrom in said plane and at a predetermined angle to saidon arm or" somewhat more than ninety degrees, said lower, leg having an offset portion intermediate its ends in a-second plane normal to saidfiret mentioned plane, a pressure-member formed from sheet metal to afford an' elongated flat tube embracing: and interlocked with said offset portion of said lower leg and having spaced projecting teeth extending in one direction in sai'dsecond plane, an upper leg integrally ex tended in said first mentioned plane from the other of said arms at an angle corresponding substantially toysai'd' predetermined angle soils to normallyi'divergewith respect to said lower leg, said upper leg being formed to afford an offset portion adapted to extend around the side lug in a journal. box and having a retaining finger extending in athird plane perpendicular to' said first mentioned plane and in a direction'opposite to said one direction to engage the edge of such a rug remote from the open end of ajournal box to hold-the retainer in place in such journal box.

'7 Ina packing retainer for journal boxes, a

; mounting' meinber formed from a single length of spring wire-to aiiord a torsion coil with spaced operating arms extendingrrom opposite ends of the coil in substantially the same plane to define amputee handle portion to be grasped by a user. one or said arms: having a. lower leg extendedthereironi in saidplane and at a predetermined a'ngl'eto sai-d one-arm of somewhat more than ninety degree butsubstantially less than onehundred eighty degrees; said lower leg havingan offset portion intermediate its endsin ase'cond plane normal to said first mentioned plane, a pressure member formed from sheet metal to afford an elongated fiat tube embracing and interlocked with said offset portion of said lower leg and having spaced projecting teeth extending in one direction in said second plane, an upper leg integrally extended in said first mentioned plane from the other of said arms so as to normally diverge with respect to said lower leg, said upper leg being formed to afford an offset portion adapted to extend around the side lug in a journal box and having a retaining finger'extending in a third plane perpendicular to said first mentioned plane and in a direction opposite to said one direction to engage the edge of such a lug remote from the open end of a journal box to hold the retainer in place in such journal box.

8. In a packing retainer for journal boxes, a mounting member formed from a single length of spring wire to afford a torsion coil with spaced operating arms extending from opposite ends of the coil in substantially the same plane to define an outer handle portion to be grasped by a user, one of said arms having a lower leg extended therefrom in said plane and at a predetermined angle to said one arm of somewhat more than ninety degrees but substantially less than onehundred eighty degrees, a pressure member formed from sheet metal to afiord an elongated fiat tube embracing and interlocked with said lower leg and having spaced projecting teeth extending in one direction in a second plane substantially normal to said first mentioned plane, an upper leg integrally extended in said first mentioned plane from the other of said arms so as to normally diverge with respect to said lower leg, said upper leg being formed to afiord an offset portion adapted to extend around the side lug in a journal box and having a retaining finger extending in a third plane perpendicular to said first mentioned plane and in a direction opposite to said one direction to engage the edge of such a lug remote from the open end of a journal box to hold the retainer in place in such journal box. 9. In a packing retainer for journal boxes, a mounting member formed from a single length of spring wire to afiord a torsion coil with spaced operating arms extending from opposite ends of the coil in substantially the same plane to define an outer handle portion to be grasped by a user, one of said arms having a lower leg extended therefrom in said plane and at a predetermined angle to said one arm of somewhat more than ninety degrees but substantially less than onehunderd eighty degrees, a pressure member formed from sheet metal to afford an elongated fiat tube embracing and interlocked with said lower leg and having spaced projecting teeth extending in one direction in a second plane substantially normal to said first mentioned plane, an upper leg integrally extended in said first mentioned plane from the other of said arms so as to normally diverge with respect to said lower leg, said upper leg having a retaining finger extending laterally therefrom in position to engage the edge of such a lug remote from the open end of a journal box to hold the retainer in place in such journal box.

10. In a packing retainer for journal boxes, a mounting member formed from a single length of spring wire to afford a torsion coil with spaced operating arms extending in a gradually diverging relation from opposite ends of the coil in substantially the same plane to define an outer handle portion to be grasped by a user, one of said arms having a lower leg extended therefrom in said plane and at a predetermined angle to said one arm of somewhat more than ninety degrees, a pressure member formed from sheet metal mounted on said lower leg and having spaced projecting teeth extending in one direction in a second plane that is substantially normal to said first mentioned plane for wiping engagement with the bearing surface of a railway journal, an upper leg integrally extended in said first mentioned plane from the other of said arms at an angle corresponding substantially to said predetermined angle so as to normally diverge with respect to said lower leg, said upper leg being formed to afiord a retaining finger extending in a third plane perpendicular to said first mentioned plane and in a direction opposite to said one direction to engage the edge of such a lug remote from the open end of a journal box to hold the retainer in place in such journal box.

FRED H. CAMPBELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,191,851 Gorman Feb. 27, 1940 2,495,410 'Fisher Jan. 24, 1950 

